With a Twist (41 page)
Natalie felt slightly
dazed at the reception as she and Quinn made the rounds of the tables, thanking everyone for coming. For obvious reasons, they’d seated the bar regulars together. Mrs. Colgan told them that when she married her husband, “His family hissed at me as I walked up the aisle because they thought I wasn’t good enough for him.” The Mouth began pontificating on the sanctity of marriage, until he finally noticed Quinn’s eyes were glazing over and he hushed up with a mumbled apology. PJ Leary stared glumly into his whiskey. The Major sat quietly next to PJ, taking it all in.
“Thanks for letting them come,” said Quinn gratefully.
“You were right: they’re family. Kind of like the crazy relatives you can’t avoid but whom you love anyway.”
“Precisely.”
They made their way to their seats at the family table where all the O’Briens sat, along with Anthony and Vivi. Natalie was surprised when she sat down but Quinn remained standing, signaling for the band to stop playing. The tent fell silent as all eyes turned to Quinn. “I just want to thank all of you for coming to share in what’s the happiest day in my life. But there’s someone I love who couldn’t be here with us today, and whose absence is keenly felt: my brother, Liam.” He paused a moment, obviously choked up. Then he held his champagne flute high.
“A toast to my brother. To Liam!”
“To Liam!” everyone echoed, as the band resumed playing.
Quinn took a sip of champagne, sitting down as he wiped a small tear from his eye. His parents and sisters were crying openly.
“That was beautiful,
chere
,” said Natalie, moved.
Quinn looked distraught. “I wish to hell he was here.”
“I know. But he’s here in spirit.”
His father patted his shoulder. “She’s right, son. And what matters is that he’s safe for now.”
“I pray to God he’s home soon,” said Quinn’s mother, “but your father’s right.” She clapped her hands together lightly. “No more sad thoughts now, everybody. This is a happy day. Let’s enjoy ourselves.”
“Agreed,” said Quinn. He put his arm around Natalie, pulling her close. “This truly is the happiest day of my life,” he murmured.
“Me, too.”
Natalie snuggled against him. She’d found a good man, a loving man, the right man.
Her dream had finally come true.
Recipes Inspired by
With a Twist
8 medium potatoes
1 cup whole milk
5 tablespoons butter
One bunch scallions or green onions, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
Peel and cube potatoes. Boil in salted water until tender.
Drain and mash slightly. In a small pan, heat milk and butter until butter is melted. Add chopped scallions. Fold into potato mixture until well blended. Potatoes will still be somewhat lumpy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
¼
cup sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
½
cup butter
1 to 1½ cup seedless raisins
Caraway seeds to taste
1⅓ cups buttermilk
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix and sift flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse cornmeal. Stir in raisins and caraway seeds. In another bowl combine buttermilk, eggs, and baking soda. Beat this second mixture with a fork. Stir second mixture into first until well blended. Form the dough into a round loaf and put it on a baking sheet. Bake forty-five to fifty minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. (Note: some people prefer to make the bread in a large, greased loaf pan.)
Go ahead. Try ...
Just a Taste
By New York Times bestselling author Deirdre Martin
Since his wife’s untimely death, Anthony Dante has thrown himself into his cooking, making his restaurant, Dante’s, a Brooklyn institution. So far, his biggest problem has been keeping his brother, the retired hockey star, out of the kitchen. But now, a mademoiselle is invading his turf.
Stunning Vivi Robitaille can’t wait to showcase her taste-bud-tingling recipes in her brand new bistro, Vivi’s. Her only problem is an arrogant Italian chef across the street who actually thinks he’s competition.
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From
New
York Times Bestselling Author Deirdre Martin
penguin.com
M205T0209
THE BERKLEY PUBLISHING GROUP
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Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices: 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.
Publisher’s Note: The recipes contained in this book are to be followed exactly as written. The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision. The publisher is not responsible for any adverse reactions to the recipes contained in this book.
WITH A TWIST
A Berkley Sensation Book / published by arrangement with the author
PRINTING HISTORY Berkley Sensation mass-market edition / May 2009
Copyright © 2009 by Deirdre Martin.
All rights reserved.
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eISBN : 978-1-101-04752-1
BERKLEY® SENSATION Berkley Sensation Books are published by The Berkley Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. BERKLEY® SENSATION and the “B” design are trademarks of Penguin Group (USA) Inc.
